China plans to introduce more stringent vehicle emission standards next year, which are the equivalent of Euro III.

The new standards would cut vehicle pollutants by 30%, the report said.

Citing Zhao Yingmin, head of SEPA's department of science, technology and standards, the report said that emission standards that are the equivalent of Euro IV would take effect in 2010.

China's rapidly growing car sales aren't just creating traffic jams in major cities, but are causing a noticeable deterioration in the quality of air in some large cities, including the country's capital Beijing.